Marking apparatus



May 13, 1958 L. GROSS MARKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1955 INVEN TOR. Z 0 a s 6% s 5 WW ATTORNEY.

mm Nu 2,834,287 MARKING ArrAizATiJs Lo'ilis Gross, Plainfield, N. J., iIS'SigIIOI m Adolph Gottscho, Illfi, Hillside, N. J.-, a corporation of New York Appliiration April 27, 1955, serial No. 504,179 35 (Claims. or. 101=s's This invention relates generally to marking apparatus and is particularly directed to improvements in apparatus for automatically marking the front end and a side surface of each of afsuccessio'n of boxes, cartons and thelik'e conveyed, in spaced apart relationship, past the marking apparatust v In thejco-pe'nding application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 356,375, filed on May 21, 1953, by Malcolm Hirschey, now U. S. Patent No. 2,775,192, a

markinga'pparatus for performing the above marking function is disclosed and comprises an arm pivotally mounted adjacent one end for swinging about a vertical axis disposed at one side of the conveyor carrying the boxes, cartons and the like to be marked. The pivoted arm extends generally in the direction of movement of the boxes and is bent intermediate its ends toward the path of movement of the boxes. A marking wheel having marking elements on its periphery is rotatably mounted on the free end of the pivoted arm, and two oppositely acting springs are connected to the pivoted arm and urge the latter to a position, in which the 'marking wheel is interposed in the path of travel of the boxes on the conveyor so that, as each box is conveyed along that path, the front end wall of the box contacts the marking wheel and pnshes against the latter to swing the pivoted .arnr away from the path while the marking wheel rolls across and ,marksthe front end wall. As the movement of the box continues, the marking wheel rolls around the front corner of the box and then rolls along and marks the contiguous sidewall surface of the box facing toward the marking apparatus. In the apparatus disclosed in the aho've idehtifie d application for Letters Patent, the marking wheel is ffofmed with a flattened peripheral portion which slidably contacts the side wall surface of the box after markinget the latter been completed and thereby establishes the position'of the marking wheel for initial contact with the box next in line Ionthe conveyor. After the ea box has moved out of contact with the markrag w the pivoted arfn is again free to be spring urged the SlilOfi wherein the wheel is interposed in the path r, me boxes I r r r 7 It he be that, nhder certain extreme circum- 'e's 'the enga e ent oftheflattened peripheral portion of the rnarki'ng wheel with the side wall surfaceof the marked box does notalways serve topositively stop the rotation of wheel and toaccura'teliy locatethe latter for initial contact with the boxwhich is next in line on the cdhveyor The above difficulty is particularly encountered during the "marking of boxes fv'.vhich are being conv'eyed at a relatively high speed Th t is the relatively great friction betweenthe flattened per'ip I r th' atria-g wheel and the side wall surface of the conveyedbex teiids to turn the wheel frbni the rotatiohal' United States Patent I provide a marking apparatus of the described character,

wherein the marking wheel is positively locked in its initial rotational position after the marking of the side wall surface of a conveyed box and is released for further rotation only when the marking wheel is contacted by the box which is next in line on the conveyor.

Another object is to provide marking apparatus of the described character with means on the marking wheel for reducing the friction between the latter and the side wall surface of the marked box after the marking of the side wall surface has been completed and the wheel is locked against further rotation,

Still another object. is to provide marking apparatus of the described character having an arrangement for rapidly returning the pivoted arm to its position wherein the marking wheel is interposed in the path of the conveyed boxes after the marked box has disengaged itself from the marking wheel, such rapid return movement of the pivoted arm being accomplished without subjecting the mechanism or the boxes to any objectionable impacts.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, are achieved by providing a marking apparatus of the described character wherein the marking wheel is rotatable about an axle fixed on the free end of the pivoted arm, and the marking wheel carries a radially movable latch device which is engageable in a suitable keeper in the fixed axle to prevent rotation of the marking wheel. The latch device includes an actuatingportion which projects beyond the periphery of the marking wheel when the latch device is engaged in the keeper, and which releases the latch device from the keeper when the actuating portion is pressed radially inward to lie flush with the periphery of the marking wheel. The keeper of the fixed axle is located so that engagement of the latch device therein will establishthe desired initial position of the marking wheel with the actuating portion of the latch device projecting radially toward the front wall of the box to be marked when the marking wheel is returned bodily, by swinging of the pivoted arm, to the position interposed in the path of the conveyed boxes, whereby the front end wall of the box to be marked can then act against the actuating portion of the latch device to release the latter during initial contact of the box with the marking wheel. Further, the marking wheelof the apparatus embodying this invention is provided with at least one freely rotatable roller projecting beyond the periphery of the wheel at a location to effect rolling contact with the side wall surface of the box when the mark ing wheel .is locked against rotation after completion of the marking of the box and thereby to reduce the friction between the locked marking wheel and the side wall surface of the marked box. In order to urge the pivoted arm to a position wherein the marking wheel is interposed in the path of the conveyed boxes, the apparatus embodying this invention employs relatively strong spring means acting on the pivoted arm to urge the latter to said position, and a dash-pot device which permits rapid movement of the pivoted arm almost to said position of the lattei and then checks or cushions the remainder of the swinging movement to avoid undesirable impacts or shocks.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, an illustrative embodiment thereof is hereinafter described 2,834,287 I i r in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of marking apparatus embodying the present invention and shown positioned for the commencement of a marking operation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a marking wheel included in the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the supporting structure included in the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the condition of the apparatus of Fig. 1 during the marking of a box;

Fig. 7 is a fragmetnary, diagrammatic view showing the condition of the marking wheel of the apparatus of Fig. 1 upon the completion of the marking of a box; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the condition of the apparatus of Fig. 1 during the return of such apparatus to the original position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a marking appara tus embodying the present invention is there illustrated and generally identified by the reference numeral 10. The

apparatus 10 includes a support base 12 which is suitably mounted to one side of a conveyor 14, shown in broken lines on Fig. l and forming no part of the present invention. The conveyor 14 is of conventional construction and operates to move successive rectangular boxes, cartons and the like 16 along a horizontal rectilinear path.

A standard or post 18 extends upwardly from the base 12 (Figs. 1 and 5) and a horizontal support arm, generally identified by the reference numeral 20, is secured on the post 18 in a vertically adjusted position. The support arm 20 includes separable portions'22 and 24 defining a split collar 26 at their confronting ends to embrace the post 18 and secured together by suitable means, for example, by bolts 28, which clamp the post within the collar. The portion 22 of the support arm extends toward the conveyor 14 and is generally normal to the latter, with the major portion of the free end edge 30 of the support arm portion 22 extending parallel to the path of travel of the boxes 16 and carrying a bearer strip 32 along which the successive boxes slide during the marking of the latter. Preferably, the end portion of edge 30, with which the boxes first come in contact, is inclined or bevelled to prevent the catching of the boxes on the corner of the support arm.

A bolt 34 forming a pivot extends upwardly from the support arm portion 24 adjacent the free end of the latter, and an arm, generally identified by the numeral 36, is pivotally mounted on the bolt 34 for swinging in a horizontal plane. The pivoted arm 36 includes two angularly related, integral portions 38 and 40, and the arm portion 38 is formed with a boss 42, at a location which is adjacent and spaced from the free end of portion 38, and having a suitable bushed bore receiving the bolt 34. Thus, the pivoted arm 36 is supported adjacent one end and extends generally in the direction of movement of the boxes, as indicated by the arrow 44 on Fig. 1, with the arm portion being bent relative to the arm portion 38 in the direction toward the conveyor 14 to project into the path of travel of the boxes 16 when the arm 36 is in the position shown on Fig. 1.

At its free end, the arm portion 40 is bifurcated (Fig. 3) to provide two spaced legs 46 and 48, and a vertical axle 50 extends between the spaced legs and is fixed with respect to the latter, for example, by a set-secrew 52. A

markingwheel 54 is rotatably mounted on the axle 5t} and I is formed in any suitable manner to support a marking element 56 on a major portion of the periphery thereof. The marking element 56 may be made up of one or more individual pieces of type or of a logotype.

When an inked impression is to be applied to the suc- 4 v cessive boxes, an inking roller 58, which is preferably of the kind having, an internal ink reservoir feeding ink to a surrounding felt or other absorbent pad, is rotatably supported from the arm portion 40 to eflect rolling contact with the marking element 56 as the wheel 54 is rotated. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the inking roller 58 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 60 (Fig. 4) extending upwardly from one end of a lever arm 62 which is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, on a pivot pin 64 depending from arm portion 40. The end of lever arm 62 remote from the inking roller carries a pin 66 to which one end of a coiled tension spring 68 is attached, with the other end of spring 68 being secured to a pin 70 extending from arm portion 40 thereby to urge lever arm 62 to rock 'in the direction moving inking roller 58 toward the marking wheel. In order to adjustably limit the movement of the inking roller toward the marking wheel, the arm portion 40 is formed with a lug 72 having a stop screw 74 extending adjustably therethrough to be engaged by lever arm 62.

The pivoted arm 36 is resiliently urged in the counterclockwise direction to the position of Fig. 1, wherein the marking wheel 54 is interposed in the path of the boxes 16 on conveyor 14, and, in accordance with this invention, this resilient force is applied to the pivoted arm 36 by a coiled tension spring 76 which, at one end, is anchored to the upper end of a pin 78 extending through the. free end of arm portion 38 and, at its other end, is secured to a bolt 80 which extends through an opening in a flange 82 extending upwardly from the free end of support arm portion 24. Nuts 84 are threaded on bolt 80 at the opposite sides of flange 82 to adjustably position the bolt relative to the flange and thereby to determine the tension in spring 76 and the magnitude of the force urging arm 36 to the position of Fig. 1.

In order to control the swinging movement of arm 36 under the influence of spring 76, a dash-pot device, generally identified by the numeral 86, is interposed between the end of arm portion 38 and a part of the Support arm 20. As seen in Fig. 3, the dash-pot device 86 includes a cylinder 88 which is open at one end and pivotally mounted, at its other end, on a pivot pin 90 carried by a boss 92 which is integral with portion 22 of the support arm. A plunger or piston 94 telescopes into the cylinder 88 and is pivotally mounted, at its outer end, on the lower portion of pin 78. Thus, as the arm 36 swings in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed on Fig. 1, plunger 94 moves into cylinder 88 and such movement is resisted by rate at which air is permitted to escape from the interior of cylinder 88. In accordance with this invention, cylinder 88 is formed with an air discharge opening 96 intermediate its ends whereby, during initial swinging of arm 36 toward the position of Fig. 1, opening 96 is uncovered and the dash-pot device offers only small resistance to the swinging movement. However, as the arm 36 approaches the position of Fig. 1, the plunger 94 covers opening 96 and the air escaping from the interior of cylinder 88 must pass through the small clearance between the cylinder and plunger whereby the final swinging of the arm 36 is checked or cushioned to prevent objectionable impacts or shocks.

Preferably, as seen in Fig. 3, the spring-urged position of the pivoted arm 36 is adjustably determined by a screw 98 threaded axially into the inner end of plunger 94 to engage the bottom or closed end of cylinder 88 and thereby to positively limit the swinging of arm 36 under the influence of spring 76.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the marking wheel 54 is provided with a locking or latching device, generally identified by the numeral 100, for positively establishing the rotational position of the wheel relative to axle 50 at the commencement of a marking operation.

. Latch device 100 includes a plunger 102 movable radial- 7 tangular box carried by an associated conveyor; said apparatus comprising an arm having a fixed axle atone end on which a marking Wheel is rotatably mounted, means swingably supporting said arm-at the other end thereof for swinging movement between an inner position, in which said marking wheel is interposed in the path of travel of the successive conveyed boxes, and an outer position alongside the path of travel of the conveyed boxes, spring means yieldably urging said arm toward said inner position so that the front wall of each box first engages said marking wheel with said arm in said inner position and swings said arm to said outer position while said marking wheel rolls and applies markings across the front wall and then along the side wall of the box, a latch member movable radially within said marking wheel, said fixed axle having a keeper groove therein to receive said latch member when said wheel is in a predetermined rotational position with respect to said arm, a spring urging said latch member radially inward to engage in sai groove, and a latch actuating rod connected to said latch member and extending slidably through said wheel parallel to the direction of movement of said latch member to project from said wheel when said latch member engages in said keeper groove, said latch member and rod being arranged in said wheel so that said rod extends out of said wheel in the direction opposed to the movement of the conveyed boxes when said wheel is in said predetermined rotational position and said arm is in said inner position so that each box, in first engaging the marking Wheel, depresses said rod to release said latch member from said keeper groove thereby to free said marking wheel for rotation until said latch member again registers with said keeper groove.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1; further comprising rollers rotatably carried by said marking wheel and projecting beyond the periphery of the latter to effect rolling contact with the side wall of the marked box as said marking wheel returns to said predetermined rotational position, thereby to facilitate engagement of said latch member in said keeper groove and to minimize the frictional drag on the marked box.

o (is) 3. Apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said arm has a projecting edge arcuately concentric with the axis of said marking wheel and projecting radially beyond the periphery of said wheel, said projecting edge being disposed relative to said wheel to prevent smearing of ink from'thc latter onto a marked box during the return of said'arm to its inner position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1; further comprising dash pot means including a cylinder open at one end, means pivotally supporting said cylinder at the closed end thereof, a plunger telescoping into said cylinder, means pivotally connecting said plunger to said arm, said cylinder having an opening in the wall thereof located to communicate the interior of the cylinder with the atmosphere during a major portion of the swinging movement of said arm from said outer position toward said inner position and to be covered by said plunger as said arm nears said inner position of the latter so that said dash pot means offers relatively small resistance to the swinging movement of the arm during said major portion of the movement from said outer position by said spring means and then offers relatively great resistance to such swinging movement as said arm nears said inner position to then slow the movement of the arm and prevent large impacts and shocks.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4; further comprising a screw threaded axially into the end of said plunger within said cylinder and engageable against said closed end of the latter to form an adjustable stop for determining said inner position of said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,130,898 Ogden Sept. 20, 1938 2,136,897 Thayer Nov. 15, 1938 2,443,791 Telfield June 22, 1948 2,636,436 Mann Apr. 28, 1953 2,664,816 Gibson Jan. 5, 1954 

